Taking after their father, who sang gospel music, Bobby Womack and his brothers formed their own group in 1952. In 1954, under the moniker Curtis Womack and the Womack Brothers, the group issued the Pennant single, "Buffalo Bill". Bobby Womack was only ten years old at the time. Sam Cooke took an interest in the Womack Brothers, and they recorded for Cooke's SAR record label in the early 1960s. Renamed the Valentinos, and encouraged by Cooke to go in a more secular and commercial direction, they scored a hit with Womack's "It's All Over Now" in 1964; the Rolling Stones' version of the song became a major hit, earning Womack generous royalty payments.
Sam Cooke died in late 1964; Womack married Cooke's widow, Barbara, a short time later, creating something of a scandal. Things became even more complicated when his younger brother, Cecil, married Cooke's daughter, Linda. As a session guitarist, Womack worked at producer Chips Moman's American Studios in Memphis, and played on recordings by Joe Tex and The Box Tops. Until this point, around 1967, he had had little success as a solo artist, but at American he began to record a string of classic soul-music singles including the 1968 "What Is This" (his first chart hit), "It's Gonna Rain" and "More Than I Can Stand," all of which featured his elegant, understated rhythm-guitar work and his impassioned vocals. During this period he became known as a songwriter, contributing many songs to the repertoire of Wilson Pickett; these include "I'm in Love" and "I'm a Midnight Mover."
After moving to the United Artists label in the early '70s, he released the album Communication, and on an album with guitarist Gabor Szabo introduced his song "Breezin'," which later became a hit for George Benson. He also became known for his interesting taste in cover versions, essaying Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin' " as well as "Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)" and James Taylor's "Fire and Rain'" and "California Dreamin'." Perhaps his most well-known work from this period is as guitarist on Sly & the Family Stone's 1971 There's a Riot Goin' On.
He continued to have hits into the '70s; these include "Lookin' for a Love" (a remake of his 1962 Valentinos single), "Across 110th Street," "Woman's Gotta Have It" (covered by James Taylor in 1976), "You're Welcome, Stop on By," and the masterful "Daylight." All are excellent examples of burnished yet gritty 1970s soul music, and reveal a pop-music sensibility akin to that of Marvin Gaye or Curtis Mayfield.
Bobby Womack's 1981 album The Poet was a surprise hit and contained the hit single "If You Think You're Lonely Now." K-Ci Hailey, a notable admirer of Womack's work, covered "If You Think You're Lonely Now" in 1994. The song is referenced in Mariah Carey's song "We Belong Together", a number-one hit in June 2005. Carey sings "I can't sleep at night /When you are on my mind / Bobby Womack's on the radio / Singing to me: 'If you think you're lonely now.'"
Film director Quentin Tarantino used "Across 110th Street" (which, in a different version, had been the title song of the 1972 movie) in the opening and closing sequences of his 1997 film Jackie Brown.
A 2003 Saab commercial shone a spotlight on Womack’s interpretation of "California Dreamin'".
In 2010, Womack contributed lyrics and sang on "Stylo" alongside Mos Def, the first single from the third Gorillaz album, Plastic Beach. Womack was told to sing whatever was on his mind during the recording of "Stylo". "I was in there for an hour going crazy about love and politics, getting it off my chest", said Womack.[4] He also provides vocals on the song "Cloud of Unknowing".
In 2010 Bobby Womack appeared on the main pyramid stage at Glastonbury with the Gorillaz.
The Bravest Man in the World Songfacts reports in 2012, Womack's first album of original material since 1994's Resurrection was released. The Bravest Man in the World was produced by Damon Albarn of Gorillaz and XL Recordings boss, Richard Russell.
Womack died on June 27, 2014 at age 70.
I Wanna Make Love To You
Bobby Womack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This feeling that's true
Honey I can hardly stand it
I want to make love to you
When the stars fall from the heavens
And the rivers have stopped to flow
If you just stop and talk to me
I ain't gonna try and tell ya
How it's made me so blue
Sitting alone and wondering
I want to make love to you
Please stop and tell me
Tell me you want me too
Oh come on baby
I want to make love to you
I want to make love to you
I want to make love to you
I want to make love to you
I want to make love to you
When the stars fall from the heavens
And the rivers have stopped to flow
If you just stop and talk to me
Honey that's when I'd know
I want to make love to you
I want to make love to you
I want to make love to you
I want to make love to you
I want to make love to you
Uh come on baby
I want to make love to you
I want to make love to you
I can't stand it baby
Make love to you
I want to make love to you
Uh talk to me
I want to make love to you
In "I Wanna Make Love To You", Bobby Womack sings about his intense desire and love for someone. He struggles to describe the feeling but knows that it's true and hard to handle. He longs for the person to talk to him and acknowledge him, and to express their mutual feelings so that they can be together. He speaks of the stars falling from the heavens and the rivers stopping to flow, which could signify a catastrophic event, but he's still focused on the desire and love he has for this person.
The lyrics are quite straightforward, and Womack's delivery is soulful and impassioned. The song is a classic soul ballad, with a simple structure and arrangement that allows Womack's voice to shine. The repetitiveness of the chorus drives home the longing and desire that Womack is expressing. The bridge, with its repetition of the line "if you just stop and talk to me", emphasizes the need for communication and connection in love.
Overall, "I Wanna Make Love To You" is a poignant and romantic piece of music that captures the essence of soul and R&B music in the 1970s.
Line by Line Meaning
How could I explain
I'm having a hard time finding the words to describe how strong my feelings are
This feeling that's true
The feeling I have for you is intense and genuine
Honey I can hardly stand it
Being away from you is unbearable for me
I want to make love to you
I crave intimacy with you
When the stars fall from the heavens
In the most unlikely scenarios or events
And the rivers have stopped to flow
Even if everything else in the world ceases or changes, my love for you remains unaffected
If you just stop and talk to me
If you just give me a chance to express my feelings to you
Honey that's when I know
That's when I'll be certain of your feelings towards me
I ain't gonna try and tell ya
I won't force my feelings on you or try to change your mind
How it's made me so blue
How much pain and sadness your absence has caused me
Sitting alone and wondering
Being left alone with my thoughts and uncertainties is agonizing
I want to make love to you
I desire closeness and connection with you
Please stop and tell me
I need to hear from you, to know where we stand
Tell me you want me too
Tell me that you have the same feelings for me
Oh come on baby
Encouraging you to act on the attraction between us
I want to make love to you
Emphasizing my strong desire for you
I want to make love to you
Repeating my deep longing for intimacy with you
I want to make love to you
Repeatedly expressing my need for physical closeness
I want to make love to you
My desire for intimacy with you remains unchanged
Uh come on baby
Urge you to give in to our mutual attraction
I want to make love to you
Reinforcing my longing for physical intimacy with you
I want to make love to you
My desire for physical closeness and connection remains unwavering
I can't stand it baby
My need for you has become overwhelming
Make love to you
I want to express my love physically with you
I want to make love to you
My desire for a physical connection with you is still very strong
Uh talk to me
Asking you to open up and communicate with me
I want to make love to you
My desire for physical intimacy with you persists
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JERRY LYNN WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Graham Buckenham
Fantastic cover ...guitar silhouette..👍
Mark Brown
Sing it bobby this timeless music jamming 2020
hanalu23kala
Wish I kept my vinyl collection. The grooves were worn on this song.
Graham Buckenham
Respect...
Andrey Delbert
2021 ANYBODY 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Canza
Yesssssss
藤井達也
On guitar Kieth and Ronnie❗ Bobby said...
Al Gibbs
Let me make to you